What to Consider when Choosing a Suspended Ceiling

Whether it’s for a home renovation or a new industrial unit, there are a few things you will want to consider when choosing a suspended ceiling. From ease of installation to having your new ceiling match your existing décor, it’s all about getting the details right so that the finished project will leave you feeling satisfied. You will also want to look towards the longer-term when making a decision about your suspended ceiling, as the choice may have to last a lifetime. 

Ease of Installation

Frustration can make or break a project for any DIY enthusiast. Know you own skills and be honest with the hardware store sales staff. If the suspended ceiling is your main project for the year, opt for a product that has as few steps as possible when it comes to installing the support grid and ceiling tiles. The sales staff would rather you leave with the right product the first time rather than seeing you return something that was more than you can handle. Installing a suspended ceiling that’s within your skill level also increases the chances of you being happy with the finished product. 

Clearance

Some suspended ceilings will require more headroom than others. Most rooms have a ceiling height of 8 feet, although it could be as low as 7 feet in a basement. Use a thin sheet of plywood to get an idea of where you want the ceiling to be. Mark the height on the wall and measure how much room you have between your ceiling height and the overhead joists. Be prepared to give or take a couple inches on ceiling height to accommodate your installation needs, but make sure the finished ceiling height will be suitable. 

Size

It may not seem important, but you will want to consider tile size when choosing a suspended ceiling. Different people will have different preferences over larger rectangles or smaller squares. Check out a few different options to find out which you like best before making a final purchase. You will also want to consider a tile size that fits best into the square footage you need to fill. Remember, the smaller the ceiling tile size, the more support tracking you will need to hang. 

Color and Paintability

Although there are more and more colors available on the market, most suspended ceilings come in industrial white. A white ceiling always gives a crisp, clean look to any room, but depending on what the room is being used for, it can also get dirty very quickly. After a few years, you may also find that you want to change the style of a room’s décor. Being able to find ceiling tiles in different colors or being able to paint your suspended ceiling is something you will want to consider if you are going to make modifications later. 

Workability

How easy will it be to install other fixtures in your suspended ceiling? Are the tiles easy to cut? Will the support tracking be strong enough to hold more than just ceiling tiles? These are questions you will need to ask yourself if you are considering installing lighting fixtures and other accessories to your suspended ceiling. 

Future Repairs

There may come a time when you need to repair your suspended ceiling. When purchasing your suspended ceiling, find out how easy it is to purchase replacement tiles and tracking. Also, will you be able to replace one tile without taking the whole ceiling apart? When choosing a suspended ceiling, consider future repairs in addition to immediate installation.